Liverpool avoided a late scare to defeat nine-man Tottenham 2-1 in their most recent Premier League clash as they turn their attentions to their upcoming game against bottom-placed Wolves
Liverpool manager Arne Slot (left) embraces Hugo Ekitike after he is substituted during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool
Arne Slot has made a demand of Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike
View 3 Images
Arne Slot's Liverpool side weathered a late onslaught from nine-man Tottenham in their most recent Premier League encounter. The Reds emerged as 2-1 victors but lost Alexander Isak to injury.
During Liverpool's trip to London, Tottenham's Xavi Simons was shown red in the first half and the visitors soon capitalised when Isak put his team ahead in the 56th minute. However, a follow-through from defender Micky van de Ven injured the Swede, who hobbled off the pitch with a fractured leg.
Isak underwent surgery on Monday and is anticipated to be out of action for several months, ruling him out of the Reds' upcoming Premier League match against Wolves. The burden of goal-scoring will now fall more heavily on Hugo Ekitike and his manager has highlighted an area where he needs to improve. The ECHO brings you the latest news from Anfield.
Hugo Ekitike demand
Ahead of Liverpool's clash with Wolves, Slot confessed that he expects Ekitike to grow stronger with this increased responsibility. Slot said: "Still he needs to get stronger but he has already become stronger.
"I don't think he changed a lot in all his offensive qualities. He's fast, he can score a goal, he has great footwork, he's got dribbling skills. He has so much in his locker, I think that's the way you say it here.
Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, gives instructions to Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on October 04, 2025 in London, England
Slot has asked for more of Ekitike(Image: Getty)
View 3 Images
"I think he's adjusted to the Premier League now. Now he has to not only adjust but make sure, with his physique, how fast he is. He can become also physically outstanding, and that's where he's working really hard.
"By the way, in the last three, four minutes, he was very, very, very tired in the Tottenham game as well. I see this more often but that is maybe also because so many of the same players constantly have to play, there's hardly any rest for them.
"I have to give them a lot of compliments that they constantly can bring what they are bringing, playing so many games, hardly any rest because we don't have so many chances to rotate. Every single time they fight, fight, fight from the first second until the last and Hugo is one of them."
Arne Slot criticises Tottenham star
Whilst boss Slot was quick to lavish praise on Ekitike following his strength demand, the Dutch manager had far less generous words for Tottenham's Van de Ven.
It was the defender who lunged in attempting to block Isak's effort on goal and ended up catching the forward badly. Isak's leg became trapped between both of Van de Ven's and twisted severely.
Alexander Isak of Liverpool scores for 0-1 but suffers an injury during the Premier League match against Tottenham
Van de Ven's tackle injured Isak
View 3 Images
When questioned whether any disciplinary action should have followed, Slot was swift to condemn Van de Ven for what he described as a "reckless" challenge on his club-record £120million striker.
"It was a reckless challenge," stated Slot. "I've said a lot about the tackle of Xavi Simons, which for me was completely unintentional. I don't think you will ever get an injury out of a tackle like that.
He continued: "But the tackle of Van de Ven, if you make a tackle like that 10 times, 10 times there is a serious chance the player gets a serious injury."